I saw this webnovel mentioned on a review swap thread, read the review that was swapped (you can see it below) and felt like the author had been short changed leading me to want to balance the scales, so to speak.
Before I begin I must say that I do not like the genre of romance. Let's face it for once moment, romance is not written with men in mind. We're not the intended audience (which is fine, we get sports and every superhero movie) so it should come as little surprise to anyone when I say, under normal circumstances I would not read this story. This story is not written for me, and it largely doesn't appeal to me. Having said what I've now said, we're still left with the question of whether this is a good story.
I'll start with the writing. Two things are of particular note in terms of the writing within this story. The first is that it's poetic, aesthetically pleasing, sophisticated. The language used, even in narration, matches the station and character of the...well, characters. The sophistication of the language used really synergises with the setting, creating an immersive effect that draws and keeps the reader in the narrative. At times, it feels as if the reader and narrator are together in the same dinner party, and the narrator is regaling the reader of interesting rumour.
The second thing of particular note about the writing is the way the story almost traces the thoughts of the characters. Their thoughts aren't just described they are punctuated. Aman isn't just described as being caught off-guard by his intrusive thoughts of "her", the reader is too. Through the effective punctuation of the thought with the layout, the effect is more impactful. It's not simply that we know Aman is being drawn to her, we feel that draw enacted upon him. Similarly, we're not just told of Myra's affection, and nostalgia for times gone by, we feel the longing for her Kaki maa, for her sandesh. The author gives us a window through which the reader cannot merely see into the soul of the characters, we can inhabit them.
That is not to say that the writing is perfect. There are some grammatical mistakes along with some writing choices that feel less authentic to the real world, these act to jolt the reader out of trance like engagement to question whether a character's response is believable. The effect isn't long dramatic, but any break in immersion is a break in concentration, and a break in concentration is an invitation for distraction and perhaps another activity. These small moments don't detract from the quality of the writing, and perhaps my personal sense of what is and is not believable in terms of the human heart would not be shared by others, and so the issue wouldn't be repeated.
Now to the story. I have made it clear already, I am no fan of romance, I don't enjoy romance as a genre, but when writing a review, the question isn't whether the story is good for what I want, but rather whether it is good for what it is. Five chapters in, and this is proving to be a good romance, whether or not romance is itself good. One can see the depth of the feelings the main characters have for one another, and the opening chapter of the story really illustrates the depth of the character's passion. Nature itself is a conduit for their passion for one another within Myra's mind, what an untameable passion that is. The thread of untameable passion is mirrored by Aman's feral obsession. His reaction to Myra's appearance at the party really reflects that same theme of uncontrollable passion alluded to by Myra. (For who can bottle the wind?)
So there's passion, and sense of destiny, but what else? What else is needed for an epic romance? The answer, adversity. this story has adversity, alright. So much so that one could call the Characters star crossed, so much so that you'd have to question whether they should be together, so much so that you have to question whether it's right for them to be together. Marriage, commitment, politics, hopes, dreams, the greater good? Are all these things nothing in the face of love? Are they collateral damage? The loss of which is unfortunate but ultimately worth it? Maybe if the romance is epic enough to justify it? Maybe it is the sacrifice that makes the romance epic? Either way, a lot hangs in the balance, and a lot stands against them.
The final ingredient to any good romance is fantasy. Perhaps a stab at the genre, my observation is nonetheless valid. A real romance can't compete with a fantastical one, in life people are not so willing to throw everything to the wind for the ones they love, but while realistic, it's not romantic. This story has the real, but it leaves room for fantasy. It leaves room for someone to imagine they would fight typhoon himself to steal a kiss from their sweetheart, or that they're worth a journey to the depths of Hades, because that is how a romance should be. These notions are fantastical, they don't bare out in reality, but they are a necessity in a romance story, so that people can live vicariously through the characters and enhance their immersion.
The world is well fleshed out, given that it is largely our world, political intrigue aside, a lot more time can be spent diving the psyche of the characters. The political intrigue, however does captivate as well. It's written with a nod and a wink to some real life events, without miring itself in unnecessary partisan proselytising. The effect is the enhancement of the story as a whole.
So, the purpose of any review is to determine whether the work is worth investing your time in. I have made it clear, I am not fan of romance, I don't enjoy the genre at all and for me, baring unforeseen circumstance, my journey with this story is at an end. That being said, if romance is your proverbial cup of tea, I believe, Princess Myra is a must read.
To the author: I hope this review goes to make up the lack of review you had exchanged for.
